In fall 2009 our clear skies citizens generated momentum to save our Apple Capital Loop Trail on WSDOT public land. We’ve lost the momentum and face even more pressure to surplus the land. We must rebuild the momentum with clear and decisive actions. 

    State budget woes drove the legislature to raise money by selling surplus property. Section 215(1) of the 2009-11 Enacted Transportation Budget mandated WSDOT evaluate surplus property on the eastern shoreline of the Loop Trail and develop a program to sell surplus parcels. Sen. Linda Evans Parlette requested WSDOT issue a report to alert local authorities.

    WSDOT’s report recommends partial public ownership and surplus property. WSDOT identifies a fifty-foot right-of-way from Odabashian Bridge to 9^th Street and retains property for future transportation use, improved access points and wetland/riparian lands. All other lands would be surplus. Surplus lands should  be transferred at fair market value to either local agencies or private owners. The report warned this was only the starting point for a dedicated local public process and planning efforts to make recommendations to legislators.

    County and city officials authorized the More Than A Trail process that produced the Eastside Shoreline Assessment in October 2009. Over twelve-hundred participants overwhelming directed local agencies “acquire all [WSDOT land] and hold it in public ownership.”

    However, appended to the report is a letter claiming WSDOT assessed the property at $300 million. When participants were re-surveyed about paying for  public acquisition of all or part of the state owned property, eighty-nine percent of the respondents said yes. 

    Page 37 of the Eastside Shoreline identifies how to achieve the vision. The County, City and citizens should urge legislators to request this property be specifically excluded from consideration under Section 215(1). “Exclusion … allows local agencies to begin work on … subarea planning and development of financial strategies that are prudent and relevant  to implement the community’s vision.”

    The report recommends necessary steps.  Officials should recruit community members who would advocate for the vision. Simultaneously, the County needs to commit to the subarea planning process. Our legislators could request legislators approval temporarily excluding the land from a mandated surplus.

    No steps have been taken. Commissioners and Council members met on September 27 in a work session. They seem to be stunned by the cost of the property. Commissioner Mary Hunt said the County couldn’t afford to purchase the land and doubted voters would approve it. Instead of discussing exclusion, they discussed a joint letter asking WSDOT to increase the trail right-of-way to 100 feet and preserve all land west of the trail. 

    Bob Bugert, Executive Director of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust is concerned. He’s contacted Parlette’s office and is working with other leaders to draft a letter calling for broad citizen support, including developers. “Planning should provide solid recommendations for the  region that are consistent and defensible to balance conservation, economics and development.”

    Andy Dappen of Wenatchee Outdoors is concerned. Dappen’s conversations with officials indicate that planning budgets have approximately $80,000 to cover an estimated $150,000 in planning costs. He believes public officials should “let the community know times are tough, and ask leaders to raise the money to keep the process going.”

    County and City officials need to request an exclusion. Leaders are ready, money could be raised and people are ready to re-engage.

    Our legislators, particularly Parlette, need our support. The legislature is pressed by more budget shortfalls and will meet again in December to consider mandating WSDOT begin the process of selling that surplus.

    We can’t let our Loop Trail vision fade from inaction. Urge officials to request an exclusion.